Ocean Connectors

Greetings all.  I'm back in the Charity of the Week game with an exciting one for today.  What are three things that I love?  The ocean.  Mexico.  Stretching my dollar.  With Ocean Connectors, I have the chance to support the ocean and Mexican students (plus students in the U.S. too).  And today, for one day only, it also gives me the chance to stretch my dollar.  Read on!

First of all, some disclosure:  Ocean Connectors is run by a well-educated, highly motivated friend of mine, Frances Kinney.  We went to grad school together, so I know a thing or two about her and a thing or two about the org that might not be readily available on the website.  Ocean Connectors is a charity that a) helps kids in San Diego and in towns/cities around the Gulf of California, Mexico develop a connection to the ocean/coast that they might otherwise never make and b) fosters connections between students in the U.S. and in Mexico (and maybe someday in Canada), which achieves the combined goals of learning about environments further from home and getting some cross-border exchange of ideas, friendships, etc.  Anybody who has lived near the border (or for that matter far from the border but near immigrants) knows just how important it is to understand someone else's living situation/environment.  It's a valuable lesson.  Ocean Connectors is a great organization that I am happy to support.

And like I said, Ocean Connectors can help me stretch my dollar.  TODAY ONLY (May 6), Ocean Connectors is in a charity drive that allows them to get a little bonus funding, based on the number of donations that they receive of at least $25.  That is a convenient amount for me, as I want to give $50.  This week, I'll make two donations of $25 each and help them grow the total number of donations that they receive.  If you are interested in supporting this great, small (one woman show) charity, then today is the day to do it.  Find the link to their page for the special donation drive here, and help them help kids know the ocean, know their international neighbors, and connect to their natural world!

Happy Tuesday, everyone!  -grant

Whoops - how did this happen?

Hi friends.  Yes, I have not posted something on here in about 2 months.  So much for "charity of the week."  I guess that isn't quite the right name for it, if I don't post something every week!  Things got away from me for a minute there, but now I'm back.  I have still been supporting charities (most weeks) and will post a little update piece about what those are/were.  Then, I'm back in for the weekly posts!  Stay with me, and I promise (like a resolution, if you will...) to highlight some more cool charities that I like and that you might too.

Happy Thursday, everybody!  -grant

Back on My Feet

I have never been homeless, and I almost certainly never will be.  I was fortunate enough to be born into a family and a situation that offers me a support system that is stronger than most.  I'm lucky to not know what it is like to be homeless.  But clearly it sucks.  And clearly it often involves circumstances that are out of one's control.  I can imagine that it leads to all sorts of emotional issues that make it even tougher to get out of the situation.  

The Charity of the Week is Back on My Feet, a really cool organization that gets homeless folks moving and in the process helps to grow their emotional strength.  To get started, volunteers host early morning (5:30!) runs for folks who rely on local shelters.  Runners meet 3-4 times per week.  After a month, those who have shown dedication to the program (by completing 90% of the runs) move into a phase of next steps that involves jobs training, help with housing, and other skills that build on the momentum of following a running schedule.  Finally, alumni of the program start their own running groups or continue to run and provide support in their existing groups, compounding the group's efforts.  What a great idea and a great organization!  Who would of thought that something as simple as running every morning could make such a difference?  It really can.  

I am happy to support Back on My Feet and happy to send in my donation of $50 to support the folks who get up and run at 5:30 every morning!  If you are interested in supporting as well, you can find a direct link to the donation page, here.  $50 buys a complete set of winter running gear or almost two sets of summer gear.  That's not bad!  What else could these folks buy if a few others chip in as well? If you do decide to support Back on My Feet, let me know in the comments below!

Happy Sunday, everyone!  -grant

Black Girls Code

February, as you know, is Black History Month.  So in honor of some of the great African Americans that have helped to shape the U.S., this month I want to highlight a few excellent charities that serve Black Americans.  First up is Black Girls Code.  This really cool organization recognizes the underrepresentation of women of color in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math) and tries to begin fixing the problem by providing pre-teen and teenaged girls of color with highly marketable, technological skills - particularly computer programming.

Founded by Kimberly Bryant, a professional computer programmer, Black Girls Code originally concentrated its efforts in San Francisco, Bryant's home town.  But in the past year, their efforts have allowed for workshops all over the country and at least one bilingual effort to provide young Latino American girls with an equal opportunity to learn some of these skills.  With programs like Build a Game in a Day Memphis, and Build a Webpage in a Day NYC, and Build a Mobile App, Black Girls Code provides workshop participants with more than the theoretical knowledge to work in computer programming.  These girls are given the practical knowledge to create products that serve their communities and their own needs.  Tapping into these underrepresented communities is also good for the technology industry - diversity in programmers directly leads to diversity in technology and increased creativity and problem-solving ability that can translate to new, lucrative technologies.

I think Black Girls Code is a great idea, and I am happy to support it as this week's Charity of the Week.  If you are interested in also supporting this great org, you can find a direct link to their donation page here.  Let me know in the comments below if you decide to donate!

Happy Sunday, everyone!  -grant

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Ok, I'll admit it.  The commercials got me.  You know the ones.  Those sad commercials, narrated by TV stars, with absolutely pitiful looking animals just looking for some TLC.  In fact, now that I mention it, I probably saw that commercial on TLC.  Anyway...

This update is actually for last week's Charity of the Week.  I was travelling in Ecuador for work, and I did not have much time or access to reliable internet, so I was unable to blog about the charity.

Last Sunday, I donated my weekly $50 to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).  The fact of the matter is, sappy commercials or not, the ASPCA does pretty darn good work.  And small donations go a long way.  ASPCA fights to end animal cruelty - whether by rescuing dogs from dog fighting operations; taking care of abandoned animals; urging policymakers to support humane laws; etc.  This isn't an organization that is fundamentally against keeping animals for food, pets, etc.  Instead, it is an organization that wants these practices to be done responsibly.  I can certainly support that effort.

For example, an excerpt from their website:  The ASPCA believes that at every step of their lives – from birth to death – farm animals must be treated with compassion, protected from suffering, and provided with the Five Freedoms: freedom from fear and distress, freedom from pain, injury and disease, freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from discomfort, and freedom to express natural behaviors.  In my opinion, those freedoms are absolutely reasonable.

The ASPCA, like many charities, really likes to sign up people to monthly giving schemes, so the website is a bit confusing if you are trying to make a one time donation, like I was.  To find that page, click here.  If you decide to support the ASPCA, let me know in the comments below.

Happy Thursday, everybody!  -grant

Malawi Children's Village Donation Page

It's a bit late, do to some hectic travel and wonky internet, but I just sent in this week's donation to Malawi Children's Village in honor of my wonderful friend and her wonderful mother.  If you care to donate as well, you can do so here.  Apparently, a donation of $92 will support an orphan in Malawi for an entire year.  We are more than half way there!  Another $42 and we will achieve that goal.  Who wants to join me?  If you do decide to make a donation, let me know in the comments below.

Today's is a short post, I realize.

Happy Monday, everyone!  (from Ecuador!)  -grant

Malawi Children's Village

I did not plan to choose Malawi Children's Village as the Charity of the Week.  I had some other plan to go with some big, American charity.  But someone close to me lost her mother this week.  It was not particularly sudden or particularly unexpected, but that doesn't matter.  Losing a loved one hurts, and you are never really prepared.  Malawi Children's Village was one of her favorite organizations to support, so given the arbitrary nature of this endeavor, I can't think of a better place to donate this week.

Margaret Mary Elizabeth Warren Jumbe was a brilliant, caring woman with many names - most of which honor the strong women in her family.  She was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malawi and didn't want to leave.  So she didn't.  She fell in love and started a family there, continuing her work in literacy and development.  Once her two beautiful girls were getting further in to school, the Jumbes moved to Minnesota and ~15 years later, her youngest did Peace Corps in Belize.  Service begets service.

I must admit that I do not know as much as I should about Malawi Children's Village before recommending it as a charity to consider.  That being said, if Ms. Jumbe supported it, then I have no problem supporting it too.  Through my little bit of research, I've learned that the organization does both education and health work - two things that certainly improve the lives of Malawians in small villages.  I mean, who can't get behind targeted, grassroots education and health work?

So this week's Charity of the Week is the Malawi Children's Village.  In a couple of days, I'll send in my contribution and will post a link to the donation page, in case you are interested in doing the same.

Happy Friday, everyone!  -grant

Face of America Ride Donation Page

Ok, everyone.  Time to send in my donation for the week - a bit later this evening than I had hoped.  As I mentioned, this week's donation supports two things: the Face of America Ride, which gets wounded veterans out into the mid-Atlantic countryside on bicycles that are modified to fit their needs; and World T.E.A.M. Sports, which supports all athletes, regardless of physical difficulties.

I'm also happy to say that I can support my friend Shani, who raises money for these two causes every year.  If you would like to support the causes and secondarily support Shani and her efforts, you can do so here.  If you prefer, instead, to donate to a general fund in support of the Ride, you can find that here.  Either way, I hope you'll consider giving to the Charity of the Week, even just a couple bucks.  I sent my $50 to Shani's page.  If you decide to give, let me know in the comments section, below.  I want to keep up with it.

Happy Sunday, everyone!  -grant

Face of America Ride/World T.E.A.M. Sports

This is the third week of 2014 and time to highlight the third charity of the year.  This week's is a bit different because it supports an individual event and an organization.  The event:  the Face of America Ride.  The organization:  World T.E.A.M. Sports.

The Face of America Ride is a 110-mile bike ride from Washington, D.C. to Gettysburg, VA in honor and support of wounded veterans and disabled athletes.  The ride supports service men and women who have been injured in the line of duty, some of whom participate in the ride using hand bikes, as they have lost the full use of their legs.  It is a pretty great endeavor and one that my good friend, Shani, will support for the fourth year in a row in a couple of months.

Donations to this "inclusive ride" (one that supports users of all sorts of bikes) help to cover the cost of participation for the wounded veterans, helping these folks get out and spend a weekend riding bikes in the mid-Atlantic countryside.  That alone would be worth a donation, but...

The organizers of the ride typically raise more money than needed to cover veterans' costs, so leftover funds go to support World T.E.A.M. Sports, an organization "dedicated to the premise that 'The Exceptional Athlete Matters'" - T.E.A.M.  In other words, all disabled athletes, veterans or not, deserve the opportunity to challenge themselves to accomplish their physical and sporting goals.  That seems like a pretty worthy goal and one that I can get behind for this week's donation.

So read up on the Face of America Ride and World T.E.A.M. Sports and think about donating to this worthy cause.  When I send in my check, on Sunday, I'll post a link to Shani's donation page (you can support my friend while supporting this cause) and to a general donation page.

Happy Friday, everyone!  -grant

National MS Society Donation Page

And it's official.  I just sent my donation of $50 for week two of the Charity of the Week challenge to the National MS Society.  If you feel so inclined, you can donate here.  There are three ways to donate:  directly to the org; to support a National MS Society even participant (like a bike rider or runner); or a donate in someone's honor or memory.  I donated directly to the org.  If you choose to donate, let me know in the comments below!

Since choosing National MS Society as this week's charity, I have learned (or been reminded) that several other friends of mine have lost loved ones to multiple sclerosis.  It is more common than I thought.  These friends raise money for the organization, every year.  Their support goes far beyond my one-time gift, and I am very proud of them for it.

Moving forward, I am excited to choose another 50 charities to support.  I have already received so many good ideas from friends and family.  I may have to extend this beyond 52.  Feel free to suggest more options in the comments below.

Happy Sunday, everyone!  -grant

National Multiple Sclerosis Society

I know what you're thinking.  I've always said that I don't donate to organizations with a health-related mission.  If there is one thing that most rich governments around the world invest significant financial resources in, it's health research.  In the United States, the National Institutes of Health is one of the largest government research agencies (and is the largest health research agency in the world; find out more about NIH, here).  Lots of worthy causes don't have the kind of support that human health does.

However, I have grown (a bit) in my attitude about health charities.  Many of them do good work, and whether or not the issue is supported by government-funded research, these charities aren't all about finding a cure; they are often about providing support, comfort, or even just friendship to folks who share a funny-shaped chromosome.  Or a funny-acting cell.  Or a funny-operating organ.  The camaraderie which these groups offer the patient can be very valuable, emotionally, financially, or otherwise.  And there are few better ways to remember a lost loved one than by supporting others who might be going through a similar experience.

That's why the Charity of the Week this week is the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.  I have never known someone with multiple sclerosis (or MS), but someone close to me lost someone close to her to MS when they were both very young.  When she mentioned the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as a possible choice for one of my 52 charities, I knew that it would be perfect.  MS is a to date incurable disease that attacks the nervous system.  People with MS can have problems with many of their senses and can struggle to walk.  Symptoms come and go, but the disease is always there, and it can make life difficult for the patient as well as his/her family.  It can be fatal.

The National MS Society has a two part mission:  1) to mobilize people, money, policies, etc. to find a cure and 2) to help address the challenges experienced by people with MS.  The Society has a very large budget of nearly $100 million per year and four fifths of that is used for direct programming through the many chapters that exist in all 50 states.  Importantly, the Better Business Bureaus gives the Society great marks in all 20 categories on which they judge charities.  Find out more here.  I feel comfortable supporting this charity, and maybe after reading up on it, you will too.

Happy Thursday, everyone! -grant

Imagination Library Donation Page

Ok.  I just made it official.  I sent in the first $50 for 2014 to support the first Charity of the Week:  Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.  As I have discussed, this awesome organization sends age-apropriate books to children in communities around the world, every month, from birth until Kindergarten.  It turns out that only costs a little over $2 per child per month.  So, our $50 will buy books for one child for about two years.  That's awesome!  And every two dollars that you decide to give will add another month.  That makes me smile.  The donation page is located here.  If you feel so inclined, click the link, head on over, and send in a few bucks.  All major credit cards are accepted.   If you do decide to give, let us know in the comments below!  (feel free to keep your dollar amounts private unless you want to share.)

Check back in the middle of the week to see what the 2nd Charity of the Week will be and to learn more about its programming.

Happy Sunday! -grant

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

It is time to choose the VERY FIRST Charity of the Week!  But first, an aside:

In their book Freakonomics, Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner wrote about a lot of interesting analyses of very large datasets - the type of analyses that have conclusions that are difficult to prove but are fascinating (and very interesting) nonetheless.  They wrote chapters on drug dealers who live with their moms, evil real estate agents, (un)common baby names, etc.  But one study that particularly stuck out in my mind was on the presence or absence of books in the home.  It turns out that kids who had books in their homes before they started school do statistically better on standardized tests than kids without books.  Now, this may not seem terribly surprising - until you account for the amount of reading that the parents did to their kids.  It doesn't matter.  In some very large datasets of standardized test scores, it turns out that it didn't matter if the books were ever used; it just mattered that they were there.  That's obviously controversial (and it led to some pretty serious yelling matches with some of my fellow Peace Corps Volunteers when I first read Freakonomics), and nobody would advocate for less reading, but the point is that books in the home seem to start some kind of learning culture that translates to more correct answers on standardized tests, down the road.  Interesting.

Dolly Parton, of guitar-playing, singing, acting, and bra-size fame, is trying to make sure that all kids have access to books in their home.  Through her Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Dolly sends kids a new book, every month, until they start school.  What a great idea.  Now, I doubt that Dolly based her idea on some relatively obscure analyses of standardized test scores.  She just knows that reading is fundamental to learning, is an incredible tool for developing imagination, and is just plain required to succeed in this world.  She also knows that creating a culture of reading, at an early age, helps kids get ahead.  And finally, that while libraries are a great resource for kids of all socioeconomic levels, some poor kids in rural parts of the U.S. and other places (the org started with a focus on Appalachia and has grown to serve countries around the world) do not have realistic access to libraries before they make it to Kindergarten.  

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library started in 1996 with Dolly's goal to make sure that every kid in her home town in rural Tennessee had access to books.  And not just any books, but carefully chosen books (by literacy experts) that were age-appropriate, new (not used), and chosen to get kids excited about learning.  The endeavor was such a success that in 2000, Dolly decided to launch the Imagination Library as a much broader organization, reaching out to any community that wanted to try it.  To date, the group has organized the mailing of over 40 million books.  Today, 700,000 kids in 1600 communities, in several countries around the world receive a book every month.  Mark my words, those communities are or will be better off for it.

So the very first Charity of the Week is Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.  Check out the website for more information and check here for the Library's official blog.  In a couple of days, I will send in my first donation of 2014 and will post information here about how you can support this great organization, should you feel so inclined.  

Happy Friday! -grant

P.S.  This blog will be absolutely full of asides.

New Year's Resolutions

New Year's resolutions.  We all have them.  Usually, they involve being healthier, changing our diets, saving money - all admirable ways to improve our lives for no real reason except that the Earth completed another revolution around the Sun.  I think they're fun.  Once, I was sitting around contemplating the saying "worth its weight in gold."  I wondered aloud if I was worth my weight in gold.  Then I wondered if I was worth my weight in anything.  Was I worth my weight in beer?  Naturally, that progressed to "can I drink my weight in beer?" and boom!  New Years resolution - 2008.  A pint of beer weighs about a pound; I weighed 180 pounds; I just needed to drink 180 beers in the year (and keep an accurate count) and I would successfully achieve my resolution.  I hit number 180 in the middle of October.  Good times.  This was a long way to say that I enjoy this fun tradition.

Now, where am I heading with this?  What will I eat or drink 180 of this year??

Another thing I like = giving away money to charities that I respect.  I rarely feel better than when I've swiped my credit card or mailed in a check to a charity that is in a better position to make a difference than I am.  Combining my love for New Year's resolutions and giving away money led me to my resolution for 2014 - give away more money, encourage others to give away more money, and write about it.  And because I need pretty clear instructions in order to achieve any goal, here is how I will succeed:

1) 50 bucks per week.  That's what I think I can afford, after the landlord and the taxman come for their pieces of the pie.  50 bucks per week = $2600 for 2014.  That's not that much.  It's totally doable.  Each week, I will give $50 to a different charity.  52 charities.  And in the spirit of inclusion, I'll count non-profits, nongovernmental organizations, etc. in my definition of 'charity.'

2) A few days before sending in my check, I'll choose the Charity of the Week and write about it, giving a bit of context/history of the organization and giving other folks an opportunity to decide if they might also like to support it - that week or otherwise.

3) On the weekend, I'll send the check and write another little summary piece.

So that's the plan.  Follow along; share with your friends; and if you are so inclined, maybe you, too, can commit to supporting the same 52 Charities of the Week as the year moves along.  Even 2 or 3 bucks to each charity, each week will make a difference.  And it will make you feel pretty good.  I'll choose #1 tomorrow!

Happy 2014, everyone!  I can tell that it is gonna be a good one!